Macquarie University

Global Cities - SOC316

Sydney is one of the world's most diverse and globalised cities. In this unit you will be introduced to both the classical sociological literature on the urban way of life and more recent critiques of the global metropolis. We will then explore the burgeoning literature on globalisation and cities through a class-based primary research project. This project will be designed in consultation with a Sydney-based organisation or community group. These projects will be led Sociology department staff with expertise in many of the most important and pressing questions in contemporary society: for example, inequality, multi-culturalism, housing, mobility, social movements & social change. You will conduct research in a team led by a staff member, but your contributions to the project will be individually assessed. Over the semester, you will gain practical skills in research methods and will contribute to a project with 'real-world' outcomes. You will be involved in all phases of a research project: scoping and planning, conducting a literature review, preparing a research proposal, ethical conduct of research, and presentation of results to partners and peers.